Illuminated thermostat



Jan. 4, 1955 E. L. OLSON 2,698,895

ILLUMINATED THERMOSTAT Filed Oct. 15, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR EDWARD L. OLSON ATTORNEYS m m 79 Z I a! F n i r5 m 45 |l| A, W m,

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J 1955 E. L. OLSON 2,698,895

ILLUMINATED THERMOSTAT Filed Oct. 13, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 H6 4 4 kWY Y W f P Jl F/a f 3 1*" a \/Z I l I 6%) x c l l I l l .1

AWE/five L in/A2801. 64-50 United States Patentf) ILLUPVIINATED THERMOSTAT Edward vL. 01501;, I Minneapolis, v.Minn.

Application oetobe-ris, 1950, S'eri'al No. 1 89310 2 Claims. (Cl. 240-451) This invention relates to mountings for thermostats.

It is an objective of my invention to provide .anovel and improved self illuminated thermostat mounting of cheap and simple construction and assembly.

Another objective is to provide a thermostat mounting which will have a constantlyavailablesu'bdued light positively directed and substantially confined to the area of the thermometer and the control -dial of the thermostat for the illumination of the same.

Another objective is to provide an illuminated thermostat mounting, the source of illumination ofwhich will positively indicate, when the switch is closed, whether the control circuit of the thermostat is functioning properly.

A further object is to provide an illuminated thermostat mounting with a luminescent switch thereon to obviate the necessity of illuminatingthe entire room for the sole purpose of adjusting or checking the setting of the control.

These and other objects and advantages of any invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of my invention having a thermostat mounted thereon and having a portion thereof broken away to disclose its source of illumination.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of an embodiment of my invention with a different type of thermostat mounted thereon.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view through one embodiment of my invention taken between the reflector portion and the thermostat, looking downwardly, and showing the thermostat in plan view, a portion being broken away to show the opening in the thermostat housing surrounding the thermometer.

Fig. 5 is a circuit diagram illustrating the connections between the switch, the lamp and the control circuit.

One embodiment of my invention may include as shown in Figures 1-3, a relatively flat sheet or base 5 having a rearwardly extending continuous flange 6 formed along its periphery. Integrally formed with, as shown in Figure 2 or mounted on the upper portion of the sheet 5, is an overhanging reflector 7. As shown, this reflector is a continuation of the sheet or base 5 which bends outwardly and then downwardly. Mounted within the confines of the reflector 7 is a small lamp socket 8 which is adapted to receive therein a small or miniature lamp 9. This socket 8 and lamp 9 are disposed toward the forward portion of the reflector as best shown in Figure 2 so that it will be disposed above and ahead of the dial 10 of the thermostat T when the latter is mounted upon the base 5. The socket 8 is also disposed so as to be rearward with respect to the thermometer 11 of the thermostat.

As best shown in Figure 2, the socket 8 is connected in parallel with the control circuit indicated generally as, C, of the thermostat, T. Interposed within this parallel connection is a push button type switch 12, the button 13 of which is of a luminescent nature. This push-button type switch 12 is of the type which is closed only when the push button 13 is depressed.

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.2 "The base I5 is provided with a plurality of apertures lwwhichr are disposed in a predetermined position with respect t'o thermostats of a given type so "that thetmounh :ing elements or screws 15 0f :the thermostat will :com-

: muni'cate properly therewith so that the thermostat, T, and the base 5 may both be secured to a wall 16 through the use of the conventional fastening elements 15. 'Thus iit ismot necessary for -'a home owner :who

purchases such a thermostat to form apertures 'in the "base 5 or to, perform a separate mounting operation therefor. Instead my illuminated mounting .may be mounted upon the wall 16 at 'the same time and with the same mounting elements required for the :mounting of the thermostat, T. As shown, the thermostat, T,-is necessarily of :the type having open upper'iand lower ends in order to "provide adequate ventilation for the thermometer .11.

FigureB shows another embodiment of my invention of a slightly different shape and adapted to receive thereon a thermostat of the type having in combinationsa clock 17 along with the conventional thermometer 1-8 and the thermostat dial 19. This :type of theran electricahcircui't is established by the parallel connections thro'ugh thesocket 8-and-itslamp19. As best shown in "Figure 2, the reflector 7 is shaped andarranged with respect to the socket 8 and the thermostat, T, so that the light of the lamp 9 will be directed downwardly upon the dial 10 and within the confines of the thermostat T. Thus it can be readily seen that the thermometer 11 will be illuminated from the rear in the manner which will facilitate the easy reading thereof. The small lamp 9 will provide a forward light, the major portion of which will be directed downwardly within the thermostat, T. Thus it can be seen that the utilization of such a combination eliminates the possibility of disturbing small children and even adults while asleep.

The use of a push button type switch 12 prevents the possibility of the lamp 9 being permitted to remaln lighted for an extended period as a result of being forgotten. As soon as the home owner releases the button 13, the lamp 9 will no longer be illuminated.

One important feature of my invention is the combination of the lamp 9 disposed in the manner described above and connected in parallel relation with the control circuit, C, of the thermostat T. Thus the home owner is at all times positively apprised as to whether the control circuit for the thermostat is operative through the simple expedient of attempting to light the lamp 9. In the event of the control circuit C becoming inoperative and the temperature within the room dropping, the home owner will be notified of that fact by simply pressing the button 13 in order to check the temperature.

Thus it can be seen that I have provided an illuminated thermostat mounting, the source of illumination of which will positively indicate, when its switch is closed, whether the control circuit of the thermostat is functioning.

In some circuits, it is important in establishing the parallel connections between the lamp socket 8 and the control circuit, that the connections be made at points in the circuit other than as shown in Figure 2. For example, a direct connection at the secondary side of the low voltage transformer is frequently preferable in order to eliminate relay chatter resulting from a voltage drop caused by connecting the lamp 9 within the circuit.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. In an illuminated thermostat mounting fort-a thermostat of the type having a housing with an open top portion and with an opening surrounding the thermometer of the thermostat, the combination of a flat sheet of relatively rigid material, said sheet having apertures therein arranged to receive therethrough the respective mounting elements of a thermostat for securing said sheet and said thermostat in superimposed relation to a wall or the like, an overhanging reflector formed from the upper portion of said sheet and extending forwardly away from the wall and above the thermostat, and a miniature electric lamp socket mounted within the confines of said reflector and receiving therein a miniature electric lamp, said lamp socket being disposed above and rearwardly of the thermometer of the thermostat but forwardly of the dial of said thermostat whereby the thermometer will be illuminated from behind and whereby the dial of said thermostat will also be illuminated when the lamp is lighted, said socket being electrically connected in parallel with the control circuit of said thermostat at points immediately adjacent to the terminals of the thermostat, and switch means electrically connected with said lamp socket and said control circuit for briefly making a current of electricity from said control circuit available to said socket by way of such connection for illuminating such a miniature lamp, said sheet having a continuous peripheral rearwardly extending flange for enclosing between said sheet and the wall the electrical wiring necessary for the control circuit and such a connection.

2. In an illuminated thermostat mounting, the combination of a flat sheet of relatively rigid material, said sheet having apertures therein arranged to receive therethrough the respective mounting elements of a thermostat for securing said sheet and said thermostat in superimposed relation to a wall or the like, an overhanging reflector formed from the upper portion-of said sheet and extending forwardly away from the wall and above the thermostat, a thermostat mounted on said sheet below said overhanging reflector and having a dial thereon, a thermostat housing surrounding said thermostat and having open portions at the top thereof and having an opening in its outer portions adapted to receive therein a thermometer in surrounding relation and having said dial extending upwardly through the remaining top portions of said housing, a thermometer carried in surrounding relation in said opening in said housing by the outer portions thereof, and a miniature electric lamp socket mounted within the confines of said reflector and receiving therein a miniature electric lamp, said lamp socket being disposed above and rearwardly of said thermometer but forwardly of the dial of said thermostat whereby the thermometer will be illuminated from above and behind by way of said open portions of said housing and whereby the dial of said thermostat will also be illuminated when the lamp is lighted, said socket being electrically connected in parallel with the control circuit of said thermostat immediately adjacent said thermostat, and a switch means electrically connected with said lamp socket and said control circuit for briefly making a current of electricity from said control circuit available to said socket by way of such connection for illuminating such a miniature lamp, said sheet having a continuous peripheral rearwardly extending flange for enclosing between said sheet and the wall the electrical wiring necessary for the control circuit and such a connection.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 778,618 Wilkinson Dec. 27, 1904 1,422,841 Dey July 18, 1922 1,505,383 Flickinger Aug. 19, 1924 1,750,422 Noyes Mar. 11, 1930 2,526,992 Biermann et a1. Oct. 24, 1950 

